Pocketbook
Best Of Holiday Guide 2023 Entertainment eReaders

Pocketbook

Pocketbook
Wi-Fi Bluetooth

Review date: Nov. 1, 2023

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Mozilla researched 8 hours
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Mozilla says

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People voted: Not creepy

Pocketbook, founded in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2007 and then shifted its headquarters to Switzerland in 2012, makes a wide range of eReaders based on E Ink technology. There are color ones, big ones, little ones, waterproof ones, and touchscreen ones. Pocketbook eReaders support a number of different eReader formats so you’re not tied to Amazon for your books. And the color ones are big with comic book fans. The best part, Pocketbook doesn’t seem to collect personal information on users. Take that Amazon.

What could happen if something goes wrong?

What’s this?!? Pocketbook's ebook privacy policy says they do not collect any personal identity information on their users. What year is this, 1921? But seriously, there’s a company out there that doesn’t collect your personal information, in 2023? Which means they can’t share it either, because they don’t collect it. Amazing.

Pocketbook does say they collect some login information (like time zone and operating system) and technical and usage data (like your choice of font options and language settings) if you connect your eReader to WiFi. And they say they use that usage data to give you personal recommendations. All that seems ok though.

And we should note that Pocketbook does make a Pocketbook reader app that lets you read ebooks on your phone. It has it's own privacy policy that says they can collect a tiny little bit of personal information on you (mostly, your email address) and use it for things like making book recommendations. Again, none of this worries us as Pocketbook collects so little data and only uses it to provide you the service. Go Pocketbook!

What's the worst that could go wrong with Pocketbook? Well, there really doesn’t seem like too much could go wrong with these eReaders. Although, we suppose you might get addicted to reading comic books. Go for it, we say!

Tips to protect yourself

  • If as a parent or guardian you believe that Pocketbook has in its database the personal information of a child under the age of 16, you can contact [email protected], and they will remove the information from the records.
  • Chose a strong password! You may use a password control tool like 1Password, KeePass etc
  • Use your device privacy controls to limit access to your personal information via app (do not give access to your camera, microphone, images, location unless necessary)
  • Keep your app regularly updated
  • Limit ad tracking via your device (eg on iPhone go to Privacy -> Advertising -> Limit ad tracking) and biggest ad networks (for Google, go to Google account and turn off ad personalization)
  • Request your data be deleted once you stop using the app. Simply deleting an app from your device usually does not erase your personal data.
  • When starting a sign-up, do not agree to tracking of your data if possible.
  • mobile

Can it snoop on me? information

Camera

Device: No

App: Yes

Microphone

Device: No

App: No

Tracks location

Device: Yes

App: No

What can be used to sign up?

What data does the company collect?

How does the company use this data?

Pocketbook E-Reader's Privacy Notice

"THE DATA WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU
PLEASE NOTE THAT READER ITSELF DO NOT COLLECT ANY KIND OF PERSONAL IDENTITY, CONTRACT, FINANCIAL, TRANSACTION DATA ABOUT YOU THROUGH READER.

When you connect to Wi-Fi from your Reader we can collect such non identified information concerning the Reader:
Technical Data your login data, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform and other technology on the devices you use to access this website.
Usage Data includes information about how you use our Reader. By Usage Data we mean: how you use your book library, information concerning which buttons on the e-reader you click, which you do not, how often do you use buttons, turning on/ off the device, setting font options, changing the interface language, sending archive, changing the library settings, setting the read mode. We collect these information to make our Services better for the end-customers. Understanding of your usage preference give us the opportunity to develop and produce better Readers, which will have higher reliability, usability, compressed functionality and extremely easy startup."

"In case you are using any of our additional Services, which collect Personal data please read their Privacy notices:
PocketBook Reader application iOS/Android
Send-to-PocketBook
ReadRate
Cloud"

PocketBook Reader Mobile application privacy notice

"We collect the following personal information through application:
E-mail address
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Google Drive and Google Books
Dropbox
OneSignal"

"Note that we do not collect any sensitive data through application."

"We collect such non identified information concerning the Application:
Technical Data your login data, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform and other technology on the devices you use to access this application.
Usage Data includes information about how you use our Application. By Usage Data we mean: how you use your book library, information concerning which buttons on the Application you click, which you do not, how often do you use buttons, turning on/ off the device, setting font options, changing the interface language, sending archive, changing the library settings, setting the read mode. We collect these information to make our Services better for the end-customers. Understanding of your usage preference give us the opportunity to develop better Application, which will have higher reliability, usability, compressed functionality and extremely easy startup."

"HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL DATA ...
To make you book recommendations ... "

How can you control your data?

Pocketbook E-Reader's Privacy Notice

"We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your data, the purposes for which we process your data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.

In some circumstances you can ask us to delete your data."

PocketBook Reader Mobile application privacy notice

"We engage Google LLC and its services for your better experience and easy access to the electronic contect that you purchase via our Online Store. Google Books allows you to import your purchased electronic content from Google Books into the Application.

For your convenience, Google LLC does not share your personal data with us – the access to your Google services is possible with individual token key (anonymized data). "

What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?

Average

No known incidents in the last 3 years.

Child Privacy Information

"The Services are not intended for children under 16 and Pocketbook International SA do not knowingly collect data relating to children. Users must be at least 16 years old or older to register for a Services Account to use the PocketBook Services. If a parent or guardian believes that Pocketbook International SA has in its database the personal information of a child under the age of 16, please contact us at [email protected] and we will use our best efforts to remove the information from our records."

Can this product be used offline?

Yes

User-friendly privacy information?

No

Pocketbook has fairly easy to read privacy policies. The problem is, they also have three different privacy policies scattered about that are a bit hard to decipher which applies to what. We think we got it figured out, but it would be nice they would make that a bit easier on folks by having one privacy hub page.

Links to privacy information

Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards? information

Yes

Encryption

Yes

Strong password

N/A

Security updates

Yes

Manages vulnerabilities

Yes

Privacy policy

Yes

Does the product use AI? information

Can’t Determine

Is this AI untrustworthy?

Can’t Determine

What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?

Is the company transparent about how the AI works?

Can’t Determine

Does the user have control over the AI features?

Can’t Determine

*privacy not included

Dive Deeper

  • With an Upgraded Color E Ink Screen, This Could Be the Perfect E-Reader for Comic Book Fans
    Gizmodo

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